Tag Archives: Swallow

Cattle Egret – 9th April

April 9, 2024Recent wildlife sightings2024, 9th April, Cattle Egret, House Martin, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning there were plenty of hirundines about and Willow, Sedge and Reed Warblers singing. In mid-morning seven Cattle Egrets flew north, along the river and then crossed the pylon path and returned whence they came except for one that landed in a riverside ash tree, where Black-headed Gulls proceeded to mob it. It then flew over the power lines and into a Deep Pit willow, where it stayed. PS.

Cattle Egrets – Neil Hodgkinson

Cattle Egret – Peter Smith

In the evening four House Martins were seen near the railway bridge. MC.

Little Gull – 6th April

April 7, 2024Recent wildlife sightings2024, 6th April, Deep Pit, Little Gull, Sand Martin, Scaup, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning there were five Willow Warblers singing and a Swallow was seen with four Sand Martins. There was also a report of a Scaup. PD.

Later a 1st summer Little Gull was flying over the Slurry Lagoon and Deep Pit. MC.

Little Gull – Miles Cluff

Bittern – 28th September

September 28, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 28th September, Bittern, Common Snipe, Ecopark, Hobby, Raven, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, WhinchatPete Smith

This morning two Bitterns were seen flying about the Slurry Lagoon. There was a slow passage of Swallows until late morning, when about fifty arrived to feed over the Slurry Lagoon. There were also three small groups of Common Snipe seen to fly around the site. PS.

In the late morning a Raven was seen on a pylon, a Hobby followed the Swallows and a Whinchat was found on the Ecopark. IEP.

Hobby – 24th September

September 24, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 24th September, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Hobby, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, WigeonPete Smith

This morning a Hobby was seen over the Slurry Lagoon. There was also a light passage of Swallows and House Martins and two Wigeon flew in. There were some large flocks of small birds containing Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. PS

Bittern – 13th September

September 13, 2023Recent wildlife sightings13th September, 2023, Bittern, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, House Martin, Siskin, Slurry Lagoon, SwallowPete Smith

This morning a Bittern was seen, sunning itself in the Deep Pit reed-bed. There were still Swallows and House Martins passing through on passage and good numbers of Chiffchaffs were heard and seen. Two Siskins were in a tree on the NE corner of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Water Rail – 3rd September

September 3, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 3rd September, Blackcap, Causeway, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Deep Pit, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

This morning there were five Wigeon on the Slurry Lagoon. Up to 36 Shoveler were also there and about forty Swallows passed to the south in small family groups. A Water Rail dashed across the gap in front of the Causeway benches and two others were heard. There were still two Common Terns on the Deep Pit and large flocks of warblers, mostly Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, were about. PS.

Wheatear – 27th August

August 27, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 27th August, Causeway, House Martin, Sand Martin, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Wheatear, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a single and later a pair of Yellow Wagtails flew over the site towards the south. On the Causeway path a Wheatear was foraging for food and a flock of hirundines, including at least 20 House Martins, was feeding overhead. From time to time a group of Swallows or Sand Martins would join them before moving on south. Later fourteen Shoveler flew in and settled on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Wheatear. PS.

Merlin – 25th April

April 25, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 25th April, Comma, Deep Pit, Garden Warbler, Green Hairstreak, Merlin, Raven., Red Kite, Swallow, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a Red Kite was hunting over the reserve. Two Ravens were also seen. One Raven then flew to mob the kite and next a Merlin joined in. A Garden Warbler was heard and seen close to the railway bridge. A Green Hairstreak was seen as well as two Commas. PS.

In the morning there was a flock of Swallows in the Deep Pit and a Yellow Wagtail. RJP.

Brimstone – 7th April

April 7, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 7th April, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, SwallowPete Smith

Not just Brimstones, but today was a great day for butterflies. There were good numbers of Brimstones and Orange-tips about. Also seen were Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Holly Blue. Two Swallows were feeding briefly over the Slurry Lagoon. PS

Curlew Sandpiper – 29th September

September 29, 2022Recent wildlife sightings2022, 29th September, Black-tailed godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Raven, Ruff, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, SwallowPete Smith

At about 09.00 a Black-tailed Godwit flew onto the Slurry Lagoon. There were also two Snipe and about four Ravens were flying about. Later the Godwit flew off towards Holme Pierrepont. The Swallow family under the railway bridge had also, at last, fledged four chicks. The chicks were flying around the bridge and then back to the nest. PS.

Later another or the same Black-tailed Godwit re-appeared. Also coming in were four Curlew Sandpipers and two Ruff. RW.